Jamestown Community College women’s head coach Dave Turnbull was named the NJCAA Region 3 Coach of the Year after leading the Jayhawks to a 16-7 record and a No. 2 seed in the regional playoffs. P-J file photo by Scott Kindberg

Dave Turnbull has had a pretty good nine months.

Last July, he was selected as a staff member at the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association in Rock Hill, South Carolina, which featured the best of the best girls high school players from not only the United States, but also from Europe.

And, yesterday, it was announced that the Jamestown Community College women’s head coach was named the NJCAA Region 3 Coach of the Year after leading the Jayhawks to a 16-7 record and a No. 2 seed in the regional playoffs. Although they lost to Monroe CC in overtime on Saturday, it still was a fine season for Turnbull’s crew.

Along the way, the Jayhawks averaged nearly 70 points per game and sported a 10-game winning streak at one point.

“I still like to teach the game and I still love the practices and the relationships you build with the players,” Turnbull said via text message Monday night. “At this point, I measure success based upon whether I am helping players improve and reach their goals. The wins and losses take care of themselves.”

Turnbull’s passion for basketball has its roots dating to his childhood. Ultimately, his love for the game expanded to working summer camps and rubbing elbows with some of the biggest coaching names in the sport. One of them is former Stanford women’s coach and Chautauqua Sports Hall of Fame inductee Tara VanDerveer.

When it was suggested last night that he let the Hall-of-Famer know of his latest honor, Turnbull texted: “I’ll be talking with Tara later this week!!”

WOMEN

BERENS IS POY

Jamestown Community College’s Jennica Berens has been named the Region 3 Women’s Basketball Player of the Year for 2024-25 and has received an All-Region First Team designation. Fellow guard Myla Truitt earned a spot on the All-Region Second Team.

Berens led the Jayhawks with 11.5 points and six assists per game. She also finished the season averaging 6.7 rebounds.

Truitt started all 22 games for the Jayhawks. The sophomore averaged more than 10 points to go along with four rebounds, three assists and one steal per contest.

MEN

BARRAND, WYNTER HONORED

The Jayhawks placed a pair of freshmen on the All-Region Men’s Basketball Second Team, with Tamir Barrand and Marcus Wynter receiving the honors.

Barrant led the Jayhawks in scoring with 16.7 points per game. The Georgia native also added five rebounds and 2.4 assists per game.

Wynter led JCC in assists per game at just under six. The native New Yorker averaged 13.7 points per game.

JAYHAWKS FALL IN OT

SANBORN — Heartbreak doesn’t start to describe the feeling for the Jayhawks, who had their season come to an end, 91-80 in overtime to Monroe CC in the NJCAA Region 3 semifinals.

Jamestown CC trailed the Tribunes by as many as 26 points in the second quarter at SUNY Niagara, but the Jayhawks went on a torrid run to tie the game at 68-68 on a Kendra Altadonna layup with just 1:14 left in the game. The freshman had a team-high 17 points.

After the Tribunes made one of two free throws, sophomore Kaleigha Plett, who finished with 8 points in her final game, gave the Jayhawks the lead with a mid-range jumper at 70-69. Monroe CC made one more free throw late to force overtime. That’s when Jamestown CC’s offense went dormant, making just three of 13 shots.

Sophomore Courtney Martin, who had 15 points and 15 rebounds, as well as Jennica Berens, who scored 16, also played a huge part in the comeback for the Jayhawks.